Trailer body and floor construction



3 Sheets-Sheet l FQNTAINE Fiied Feb. s, 1941 Nov. 21, 1944.

ROBERT Fl, FONTE/NE Nov. 21, 1944. R. A. FoNTAlNE 2,363,170

TRAILER BODY AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. s,V 1941 s sheets-sheet 2 oo 5 5o. 5

oooooooooooooooooqooouooooooooooooo OOOOOOOOO Nov. 21, 1944. R. A. FONTAINE TRAILER BODY AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ROBERT Fl. FON THINE body embodying my invention'. Figure 2 is aside elevation illustrated in Figure 1.

Patented Nov. 2l, 1944 TRAILER BODY AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Imbert A. Fontaine, Rtanoke, va. Application February 3, 1941, Serial No. `377,229

2 Claims. The invention relates to trailers for motor vehicles and more particularly to trailer body and oor construction.

'I'he principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a trailer body, either 'of the closed or open type, ofV great strength and lightness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer having afloor construction and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, said side walls being of corrugated metal and being preferably continuous from end to end of the vehicle body.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide a strengthening member in connection with the upper marginal edge of the corrugated metal side walls, said member being adapted to embrace said marginal edge and provide its upper edge-` with a smooth contoured surface adapted to receive either a roof sheet of a closed vehicle or a canvas cover of an open body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for strengthening the connection be tween the portion of the floor adapted to overlie the motor truck and the adjacent portions of the iioor which is preferably carried at a lower elevation. i

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide means for housing .the rear axle and Wheel assemblyand to so construct the body adjacent thereto as to provide adequate strength with minimum weight. i f

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel floor beam construction, each beam being of inverted U-form, theupper surfaces of the beams beingadapted to lie in the same plane andiorm the iioor construction, the flanges o'f the beams being adapted to .contact to provide means for permanently and rigidly uniting each beam to the two adjacent beams. y

Still another. object of the invention is to provide,.in connection with floor beams of the typev described, reinforcing members extending transversely ofthe beam,` said transverse Amembers being positioned in alinement and forming, when the floor is assembled, longitudinally extending girders for strengthening the iioor construction. Other objects xof the invention will appear from a more detailed description of the same when taken in connection with th'e accompanying drawings in which:`

Figure 1 is atop plan view Aof a closed trailer 'of the trailer body by the arrows adjacent the ends of said section line.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on `line 5--5 of Figure 1, the direction of view being indicated by the arrows adjacent the ends of said section line.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, the'direction of View being indicated by the arrows at the ends of said section line.

Figure 7 is a partial vertical section taken on line 'l-Tof Figure 2, the direction of view being indicated by th'e arrows adjacent the ends of said section line.

Figure 8 is a view partially in plan and partially in section, the section being taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 7 and the directionv of view being indicated by the arrows adjacent the ends of said section line.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on Ylinell---ll of Figure 1, the direction of view being indicated by the arrows adjacent the ends of said i section line.

, of said section line.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating however aplan view of an open trailer body and showing the tail gate in horizontal position.

`Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the construction sh'own in Figure 11, said view also illus- 40 Figure 12, in each case the direction of view being vindicated by the arrows adjacent the ends i of said section line.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line Figure 3, vthe 'direction of view being indicated Throughout the specication and drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters.

In the drawings the numeral I is used to designate the closed body'as a whole.V The said body preferably comprises a wall or siding member 2 which maybe and4 preferably is'continuous, that is th'e siding member 2` may extend from the rear end of the truck forwardly varound the forward end and then rearwardlyto the 'opposite `rear end of the truck as a continuous sheet, or several sheets having their adjoining ends connected together may be used for this purpose The upper edge of the siding 2 terminates in a single plane and there is -provided a'rigidifying member 3 co-terminous with the siding and preferably formed as an inverted rolled U having a curved closure member 4 connecting the" side walls 5, `the side walls being adapted toflieon opposite sides of th'e corrugated siding, the marginal edge of which terminates at the spring .line of the curved portion 4, and the side walls `being,

tion that in the closed body the roof sheet '8 extends over the members 3 and is curved to correspond thereto so as to form a smooth marginal edge and that with the roof sheet engaging the outer face of the members and the carlines engaging the inner face of the members 3 a tremendously strong butv light construction is achieved which prevents the weaving and distortion of the side wall or siding of the vehicle.

At the lower marginal edge of the siding I provide an inverted T-member II best illus- Y trated in Figure '1, the vertical I2 of the T ex-T tending upwardly along the inner face of the siding and the flange I3 extending outwardly and forming a base or seat against which the lower marginal edge of the siding 2 is adapted to rest, the width of the said flange I3 being preferably of the width or depth of the corrugations in the said siding. 'I'he said T member II is also provided with an inwardly directed flange I4, the purpose and object of which will hereinafter be described.

The flanges of the Tv member are preferably continuous and extend fromthe forward edge of the axle housing I5 to the forward edge of the oppositely disposed axle housing on the opposite side of the body. Since the lower marginal edge of the trailer body is disposed in two planes it is obvious that at the point of connection between the lower plane I6 and the upper plane I1 the web of the T member II must be cut so as to permit the flanges I3 and I4 to be directed at an angle to the spaced planes I6 and I1. This construction is best illustrated in Figure 5, the web I2 of the T member being 4eliminated from the point I3 of the upper plane to the point I8 of the lower plane, the flanges I3 and I4 being bent upwardly as indicated at 20.

From the point or vertical plane I8 and extending rearwardly to a plane behind the point or plane I9 I provide a plate member 2|, the upper edge of which is preferably positioned in the plane of the upper edge of the web I2, a portion of the lower edge of the plate 2l being preferably positioned in the-plane of the upper face of the flanges of the said T-beam Il. The connecting lower edge of the plate 2| is crimped so as to overlie and contact the inner flange I4 of the T member II so that there is provided a triangular gusset plate connecting the upper and lower portions of the floor construction at each side of the vehicle body.

In order to close the outer face of this opening formed by the flanges of the T member and by portions of the plate 2| I preferably employ a fiat plate 22 which extends from side to side of the vehicle underlying the flanges I3 and I4 and preferably welded to the same, and to close the opening between the plane of the upper floor member and the plane of the lower iioor member I provide a vertical plate 23 which also extends from inside to inside of the vehicle and is preferably welded to the adjacent floor beams on its opposite faces. It will be understood that at the point or plane I8 the plate 2| is butt welded to the web I2 of the T and at the point or plane where the plate 2| overlies the web I2 of the T member spot welds may be used to rigidly unite the plates 2| with the adjacent portion of the web of the T member.

In order to maintain the floor level of the body as near the ground as possible I provide adjacent the outer end of the body a pair of axle housings I5, each of which is adapted to house the dual wheels 24 mounted on the opposite ends of the axle 25. Since itis essential in the operation of a truck to make wheel changes from time to time it is desirable that the housings I5 be so constructed as to permit the ready removal and insertion ofthe wheels 24. 'I'his is accomplished by terminating the siding adjacent the upper periphery of the said wheels in the curved line .26, the marginal edge of the curved line being spaced above the periphery of the adjacent wheel a suiiicient distance to permit the removal or insertion of the wheel without interference.

It will be obvious that between the forward and rear edges of each axle housing the T-beam Il must be eliminated and in order to compensate for this loss of the T-beam I provide the following construction. Extending upwardly from the marginal edge of the web I2 of the T- beam II I provide plates 21 and 23-and since the construction of each side of the vehicle is identical the description of one side will suffice for both. The plates 21 are butt welded to the respective portions of the web I2 and are preferably riveted to the siding 2, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the rivets 29 being counter-sunk at the inner wall so as to lie ush with the surfaces of the plates 21 and 28. These plates extend upwardly and are butt welded to the adjacent portion of a metallic belt rail 30,. the latter being continuous and co-terminous with the siding. Connected to the adjacent inner edges of the plates 21 and 28 are flat transversely extending plate members 3| which form vthe lateral faces of the well for each pair of wheels 24. The inner ends of the plates 3| are connected by a longitudinally extending plate 32 in order to entirely enclose the inner face of each wheel housing or well. On the outer face of each housing the siding 2 extends downwardly so as to have the lower marginal edge thereof coincide with the curved edge of a plate 33. The top wall of the housing is formed by a plate 34, said plate extending outwardly from the plate 32 and bridging the space between the plates 3| and being welded to the same and to the plates 32 and to the lower marginal edge of the belt rail 30. If desired, a corrugated reinforcing plate 35 may be 'positioned so as to underlie the plate 34, said corrugated portion being adapted to entirely cover the exposed surface of the plate k34 and being preferably connected to the adjacent siding 2 and the plates 3| and 32.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings that rearwardly of each axle housing the T-beams are continued to the respective end walls of the vehicle.

Referring now to the iioor construction I provide a series of inverted U-shaped beams 36, each of which is adapted to extend transversely of` the vehicle body. It will be understood, of course,

aacaivo that the marginal ends of these beams are adapted to conform to the shape of the adjacent portions of the T-beam I2 and each of the beams 36 is of sufficient length `to bridge the entire space transversely of the vehicle between the web I2 of the oppositely disposed portions of the T-beam I. Each of the floor beams 36 is provided with marginal flanges 31 having inturned flanged portions 38 thereon andai: the ends of each beam there `\.-are provided down-turned flanges 39 adapted toabut the web lf2 of the beam Il. Thefianges 38 of each beam are adapted to overlie and contact the adjacent flange I4 of the beam Il and are preferably welded to the same. The marginal anges 31 are, with the exception of the end beams, adapted to engage and abut the marginal flanges of the two adjacent beams, as is clearly indicated in Figure 9, and these abutting flanges are adapted to be spot welded together so as to form in fact a unit construction, the unit being made up of 4a plurality of inverted U or box beams, the marginal edges of which, together with the inturned flange 38, form a plurality of transverse stiiening beams adapted to rlgidifythe entire body construction. Each of the box beams is preferably provided with a reinforcing beam 40, each of the beams 40 being of U-shape and having anged marginal edges 4|. I preferably provide four of these beams 4|! for each floor beam 36 and they are preferably spaced substantially equal distance apart. Each of the beams 40 extends from the marginal flange 31 on one side of the beam to the opposite marginal flange 31 and each of the beams 40 is preferably welded to the bottom plate of the beam 35 as well as to the flanges 31, as clearly indicated in Figure '1. The beams 40 are so positioned in respect of each of the beams 36 that'when the beams 36 are in assembled position each of the beams 40 is in fact a continuation of the similarly positioned beam in each of the floor beams 36 so that, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 11, the beams 40 form in effect longitudinal girders which further stiffen the floor construction and serve to rigidify the entire body construction.

In each of the floor beams 36, which lie on opposite sides of the axle housing I5, I insert adjacent the marginal flange 31 a channel beam 43, the said channel beams 43 and the marginal flange 31 of the` adjacent beam forming a box beam construction and in these two floor beams I preferably terminate the reinforcing beams 40 at the web of the said channel beam 43. In this manner I form on opposite sides of the axle -the corrugated sheet metal 50 being secured together and extending from the forward beam 44 to the rear beam 44 to forma floor or passageway between each of the axle housings.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 15, inclusive, in which I have illustrated an open topped trailer body, it will be observed that the oor and siding construction and the upper reinforcing member are identical with that previously described;j the carlines 6 and the roofing member 3, of course, being omitted. The member 33 is provided with a down-turned portion serving to connect the horizontal portion 52 to t-he vertical end portion 53. In order to interlock the vertical marginal edge of the siding 2 between the belt rail 30 and the inclined portion 5| of the'member 3, I provide a wood block or beam 54, said block filling .the opening between the arms 5 and the member 3` and interlocking the straight portion 55 of the siding 2 in position.` In order to h strengthen this same connection from the belt rail downwardly I provide a metal beam 56 which also nils the space and interlocks the portion 55 of the siding in assembled portion.

The open body is preferably provided with the usual tail gate 51 which may be supported from Y the members 3 by rods 58 and chains 59 so as to increase the loading area of said body. If desired, there may be employed with the open body a canvas or tarpaulin cover 60, the marginal edges of which are adapted to be secured by ropes 5| to hooks 62 extending outwardly from the siding and preferably passing through the siding and connected to the belt rail 30.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A trailer body for motor vehicles comprising a pair of vertically spaced structural members, said members being' substantially identical in plan, one of said members being adapted to serve as a marginal floorv beam said last )named member being of inverted T-shape in cross section, a plurality of metal filoor members extending transversely of said body and overlappingiy associated with and secured to adjacent web and flange portions of saidfloor beam, each of said floor members having downwardly extending side flanges, means for connecting certain of said side flanges of said floor members, a wheel housing interrupting said oor members and intersecting said floor beam on opposite sides of said body, and means for rigidly connecting said floor members and the interrupted portions of said floor beam adjacent each of said intersections, said last means including a belt rail bridging the said wheel housing and gusset plates positioned on opposite sides of said housing and connected to said rail.

'2. A trailer body for motor vehicles comprising a vertically corrugated continuous siding extending from the rear of said body on one side to the opposite rear end, a belt rail conforming to said siding and co-terminous therewith, means for rigidly connecting said beit rail and siding,

an inverted T beam having one iiange thereof underlying said siding, said T member being substantially co-terminous with said siding, the opposite flange of said T member underlying and serving as a support for adjacent ends of transversely extending inverted U-shaped metallic floor members, said T beam having corresponding portions on opposite sides of the said body cut away to provide for a wheel housing, and means for rigidly connecting the adjacent ends of the said T beam on opposite sides oi said cut away portions, said means including a plurality of plate members each of which is secured to said belt rail, to the web of the adjacent portion of said T-beam and to the ends of the adjacent metallic floor members.

ROBERT A. FONTAINE. 

